Phlox plant named &#39;APPOTTPI&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Phlox  plant named ‘Appottpi’, characterized by its broadly upright and relatively compact plant habit; freely flowering habit, numerous small dark pink-colored flowers; long flowering period; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Phlox paniculata.

Cultivar denomination: ‘APPOTTPI’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS:

Title: Phlox Plant Named ‘APPOTTWH’

Applicant: Jelle van den Haak

Filed: Concurrently with this application

Title: Phlox Plant Named ‘APPOTWWH’

Applicant: Jelle van den Haak

Filed: Concurrently with this application

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phloxplant, botanically known as Phlox paniculata and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘Appottpi’.

The new Phlox plant is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Andijk and Hazerswoude-Dorp, The Netherlands. Theobjective of the breeding program was to create new compact and vigorousPhlox plants with numerous small flowers.

The new Phlox plant originated from a cross-pollination in August, 2012in Andijk, The Netherlands, of a proprietary selection of Phloxpaniculata identified as code number 047-11-K121-05, not patented, asthe female, or seed, parent, with a proprietary selection of Phloxpaniculata identified as code number 047-08-007, not patented, as themale, or pollen, parent. The new Phlox plant was discovered and selectedby the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny ofthe stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment inHazerswoude-Dorp, The Netherlands in August, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phlox plant by terminal cuttings in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Andijk, The Netherlands since 2014has shown that the unique features of this new Phlox plant are stableand reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Phlox have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Appottpi’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Appottpi’ as a new and distinct Phlox plant:

-   -   1. Broadly upright and relatively compact plant habit.    -   2. Freely flowering habit, numerous small dark pink-colored        flowers.    -   3. Long flowering period.    -   4. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Phlox and the female parent selection differ primarilyin flower color as flowers of plants of the female parent selection arepurple in color.

Plants of the new Phlox and the male parent selection differ primarilyin the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phlox have smaller flowers than plants of        the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Phlox and the male parent selection differ        in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have        white-colored flowers with dark pink-colored centers.

Plants of the new Phlox can be compared to plants of Phlox paniculata‘Appottwh’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant patent application filedconcurrently and Phlox paniculata ‘Appotwwh’, disclosed in a U.S. Plantpatent application filed concurrently. Plants of the new Phlox differprimarily from plants of ‘Appottwh’ and ‘Appotwwh’ in flower color asplants of ‘Appottwh’ have purplish white-colored flowers and plants of‘Appotwwh’ have white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Phlox can also be compared to plants of Phloxpaniculata ‘Barseventyone’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,262. Inside-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Phlox and ‘Barseventyone’differ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phlox are more vigorous than plants of        ‘Barseventyone’.    -   2. Plants of the new Phlox have larger flowers than plants of        ‘Barseventyone’.    -   3. Plants of the new Phlox and ‘Barseventyone’ differ in flower        color as plants of ‘Barseventyone’ have purple-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Phlox plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possibleto obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Phlox plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Appottpi’ grown in a container.

The photographs on the second sheet are close-up views of typicalinflorescences (upper photograph) and typical leaves (lower photograph)of ‘Appottpi’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the summer in 15-cm containersin an outdoor nursery in Mijdrecht, The Netherlands and under culturalpractices typically used in commercial Phlox production. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 25° C.and night temperatures ranged from 4° C. to 15° C. Plants were pinchedfive weeks after planting and were 19 weeks old when the photographs anddescription were taken. In the following description, color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Phlox paniculata ‘Appottpi’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Phlox            paniculata identified as code number 047-11-K121-05, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Phlox            paniculata identified as code number 047-08-007, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 12 days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 16 days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 36 days            at temperatures about 18° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 42 days            at temperatures about 18° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fleshy; typically            white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on            substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and            formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of            roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; broadly            upright and relatively compact plant habit; overall shape,            broadly obovate; low vigor to moderately vigorous in growth            habit.        -   Plant height.—About 34.8 cm.        -   Plant width (spread).—About 32.5 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Quantity: About seven primary lateral            branches per plant. Length: About 15.1 cm. Diameter: About            5.5 mm. Internode length: About 2.1 cm. Strength: Strong.            Aspect: Upright to about 45° from vertical. Texture and            luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: Close to            144A to 144B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 10.2 cm.        -   Width.—About 3.7 cm.        -   Shape.—Narrowly ovate to elliptic; slightly to moderately            carinate.        -   Apex.—Long apiculate.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Margin.—Entire; very finely serrate, inconspicious.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Glabrous;            slightly rugose; slightly glossy.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to between            137C and 143A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to            138B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137B;            venation, close to 144A. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 144B.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm by 4 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144B; towards the            margins, moderately tinged with close to 187A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single rotate and            salverform flowers arranged in compound terminal panicles;            flowers face upright to outwardly; panicles roughly            hemispherical in shape; freely flowering habit with about            330 flowers developing per inflorescence and about 1,300            flowers developing per plant during the flowering season.        -   Fragrance.—Moderately fragrant; sweet, pleasant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about nine            months after planting; long flowering period, plants flower            continuously from July through September in The Netherlands.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about ten days on the plant;            flowers not persistent.        -   Flower buds.—Height: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.            Shape: Narrowly elliptic. Color: Close to N74C; developing            calyx, close to 148D heavily flushed and tinged with close            to 200B.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 15.8 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 16.4 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 2.4 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 1.5 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single            whorl; petals fused at the base into a narrow tube; free            parts separate to slightly imbricate. Length: Overall, about            2.1 cm; lower fused portion, about 1 cm. Lobe width: About            1 cm. Shape: Free part, spatulate. Apex: Obtuse. Margin:            Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;            moderately velvety; matte. Texture and luster, lower            surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: When            opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to N66C;            towards the throat, close to N66A; throat, close to N79C;            with development, main color becoming closer to N66D and            towards the throat, close to N66B. When opening and fully            opened, lower surface: Close to 68C to 68D flushed with            close to 70B; tube, close to N79C.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single            whorl, fused towards the base; calyx, campanulate. Length:            About 9 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:            Narrowly apiculate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy.            Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close            to 148D. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close            to 148D heavily flushed and tinged with close to 200B.        -   Peduncles.—Length, primary peduncles: About 12.6 cm.            Diameter, primary peduncles: About 3 mm. Length, secondary            peduncles: About 5.8 cm. Diameter, secondary peduncles:            About 1.5 mm. Aspect, primary peduncles: Erect. Aspect,            secondary peduncles: About 40° from vertical. Strength:            Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Angle:            About 40° from the peduncle axis. Strength: Strong. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically            five; filaments fused with petals. Filament length: About            0.75 mm. Filament color: Close to NN155C. Anther length:            About 1 mm. Anther shape: Oblong; basifixed. Anther color:            Close to 164C. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to            11D. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About            1.1 cm. Stigma shape: Cleft, three-parted. Stigma color:            Close to 145D. Style length: About 1 cm. Style color: Close            to 150D. Ovary color: Close to 143B.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed on plants of the new Phlox.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Phlox have been observed to    have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind, high    temperatures about 35° C. and to be winter hardy to USDA Hardiness    Zone 6.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Phlox have been not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Phlox    plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Phlox plant named ‘Appottpi’ asillustrated and described.